Making Enfield dementia friendly – Enfield Dispatch

Age UK Enfield administrator Nicola Hyde on how the borough is helping to support people living with dementia

In 2020, 5% of adults over 65 in Enfield were diagnosed with dementia – the highest prevalence in London and higher than the rate in England.

These are alarming statistics and much is being done to address the situation of making Enfield ‘dementia friendly’.

On Saturday (18), Age UK Enfield co-hosted an event with Chickenshed Theater as part of Enfield Dementia Network’s program of activities to support Dementia Action Week (DAW).

DAW is a national awareness week and this year’s focus was the importance of early diagnosis and the workshop explored people’s thoughts and feelings about dementia through creativity, discussion and movement.

Rachel Yates, creative director of the Space Between Us Project and founder of Gladrags, is a finalist in the prestigious Dementia in Care Award for her intergenerational work with Age UK Enfield, which will take place on June 13 in central London.

The session included a screening of let’s dance again made by local filmmaker Donna Marie. This short film highlights how learning about the interests of the person with dementia can solve any communication difficulties. Donna Marie hopes the film will help caregivers and families alike with education.

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The workshop was also supported by Michelle Reshaf, from Dementia Prevention UK, who encouraged participants to take steps to reduce their risks of developing dementia.

Alison Carter Albert, who is from Age UK Enfield and co-chair of the Enfield Dementia Network, said: “The event was a huge success and opened the door for more discussion and we are really excited about the next steps.

“We are delighted to be working with Local Motion Enfield to continue these exploratory conversations so that we can work together to make Enfield a dementia friendly borough.”

Currently there are around one million people living with dementia in the UK, but this will increase 1.6 million by 2040 because people are living longer.

For more information on how to become a member of the Enfield Dementia Network:
Visit ageukenfield.org.uk

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